[MR] History Blog: Oldest Cornish Books on Show

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog is reporting on an exhibition of the oldest
Cornish-language manuscript still in existence. This the 15th century
illuminated *Pascon Agan Arluth* ("Passion of Our Lord"). The poem is a
later copy of a 14th century work.

Shown alongside the *Pascon* is the 9th century *Bodmin Gospels*
(presumably in Latin). Although produced in Brittany, the *Bodmin* was
known to be at the Priory of St. Petroc in Cornwall as early as 940. This
book in unique because the manumission of 129 mostly Cornish slaves held by
English masters was recorded on its margins and blank pages.

Both books are on loan from the British Library. They and other goodies
will be displayed at the *Kresen Kernow*, the defacto Cornish national
museum, at the former Redruth Brewery in Redruth:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62601 .

Sadly, few people can read the Cornish language now, and even fewer can
speak it. The last native Cornish speaker died at the end of the 18th
century. In recent years surviving bits and pieces of the language allowed
it to be revived, and it is being kept alive by academics and a few
families who teach the language to their children:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_language .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆